ng5 go3 zi6五個字五个字

Jyutpingng5 go3 zi6

Yaleńgh go jih

Definition

Five characters or words; or twenty-five minutes past the hour.

five characters or words
twenty-five minutes past the hour in telling time

colloquialtime

How it's used

Refers specifically to twenty-five minutes past the hour, as each character on a clock face represents five minutes. It is a common shorthand for telling time in casual conversation. Using this expression avoids the need to say the full number of minutes when the minute hand lands on a numeral.

Examples

ji1依gaa1家ng5五go3個zi6字laa3喇，faai3快di1啲zau2走laa1啦。

It is five past the hour now, hurry up and go.

nei5你zung6仲jau5有ng5五go3個zi6字si4時gaan3間zeon2準bei6備。

You still have twenty-five minutes to prepare.

Common phrases

caa1差ng5五go3個zi6字

five minutes to the hour

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for literally meaning five minutes, but it always refers to the position of the minute hand on a clock face. For example, ten past the hour is referred to as 十個字.